Private Albert Edward Knowles

Regiment: 9th Battalion of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).
Service No: S/8142
Date & place of birth: 1886, Rogate, Sussex.
Date & place of death: 25 September 1915 (aged 29) at The Battle of Loos, France.

The West Sussex Gazette of 18 November 1915 recorded that “Albert Edward Knowles was a Hill Brow lad – who enlisted in the Scotch Regiment stationed last winter at Liss, (and) has, we regret to learn, been killed in action. He was greatly respected, and formerly worked for Mr Elger at Clayton Court.”

Family background

In 1901, Albert Edward Knowles lived at Hunts Bottom in Liss. He was the third and youngest son of ten children of Arthur Knowles, who was born in Rogate, a jobbing gardener and his wife Martha, who was born in Liss. In 1891 the family lived at Lower Glenn in East Liss, but in 1881 the family is recorded as living in London Road, Rogate by which time they already had six children. It is possible while living here that Albert Edward was born.

Albert Edward has not been found in the 1911 census but at that time his father and mother lived at The Chestnuts, London Road, Hill Brow, Liss.

Military service

Albert enlisted in Liss in 1914 when, from the report in the West Sussex Gazette, it is understood that the Black Watch were stationed in the village. The 9th (Service) Battalion was formed in Perth, Scotland on 13 September 1914, as part of the Second New Army. Later it moved to Aldershot and then Tidworth. On 8 July 1915 the Battalion was mobilised for war and landed at Boulogne. It formed part of the 15th (Scottish) Division and was engaged in various actions on the Western Front including The Battle of Loos.

Death and commemoration

The initial stages of The Battle of Loos started on 21 September 1915 but the main attack with the 15th (Scottish) Division being in the centre of the front with the 1/9 Black Watch being on the extreme right was delayed as the wind was light and the gas cloud that had been released hung back. However, the village of Loos was in British hands by 8.00am. A further advance was caught in German crossfire.

Sometime during the day, Albert Edward Knowles was killed in action. He is buried in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery near the town of Souchez, 7 miles north of Arras, and is also commemorated on the Rogate War Memorial.

News

Click heading to see an analysis of the ages of the casualties, their family status, the forces in which they served, their ranks and the theatre of war and year in which they died.

Following consultation in Graffham and East Lavington, Penny Holland is researching the World War 1 casualties on the Graffham & East Lavington war memorial. Their stories are being added to this website as they are completed.

Iping & Chithurst and Stedham war memorials have recently been completed. Rogate should be completed shortly.

Commemorative events

Cocking

David Earley displayed the results of his extensive researches in an exhibition in Cocking Village Hall on 2/3 August. Photo by Jeffery Mableson

Lodsworth

A display in St Peter's church, Lodsworth was organised by Ian Buckingham for a commemorative event, with readings by Charles Dance, Geraldine James and Honeysuckle Weeks, and with Robert Vanryne on trumpet. The Book of Remembrance will remain permanently in the church.

Midhurst

Penny Holland, Sarah White, Pat and Roy Bryant compiled a Book of Remembrance for Midhurst Museum to include in its WW1 exhibition which was open throughout August.

Petworth

An exhibition in St Mary's Church, Petworth commemorated the casualties of World War 1. Medals, photos and other memorabilia were on display, along with stories of the 75 men of Petworth killed in the War. The research for these stories was by Kate and Nigel Flynn.

Rogate

Malcolm Hutchings has arranged for the village to commemorate those named on its war memorial by including their stories in the parish magazine on the 100th anniversary of each death.

Midhurst U3A WW1 War Memorial Project

The project

This is the website of a team from Midhurst U3A which is researching the family backgrounds, military service and deaths of the people who appear on local war memorials. We started with the parishes of Bepton, Cocking, Lodsworth, Midhurst, Petworth, Rogate and West Lavington, and have since added Elsted & Treyford, Graffham & East Lavington, Heyshott, Iping & Chithurst, Selham, Stedham and Trotton. The first phase of the project was completed in time for the centenary of the start of WW1, but our work continues!

Midhurst U3A

Midhurst U3A is one of over 900 U3As across the UK, each affiliated to the Third Age Trust. Our U3A exists for the benefit of those, no longer in full time employment, who wish to learn and keep active. Members share their knowledge and experience, and participate in a wide range of educational, creative and leisure activities.

Your historical records

Do you have historical material that might be of interest to our project? If so, please contact us so that we can discuss whether to add it to our archives and/or this website.

Copyright & Privacy

There is a possibility that some of the photographs or other material in this community website are subject to copyright or are considered private. If this is so, please let us know and we will amend or remove the material.